(SOLD) This is a mid-1930s Sheaffer Balance Vac-filler fountain pen in striated Golden Brown celluloid, with a 14k gold XF nib. The pen has been restored, which included a complete disassembly, a thorough cleaning, a complete overhaul of the filling mechanism, ink flow adjustment, nib tuning, and a gentle polish with a soft cloth. I work according to current "best practices" in pen restoration and I use high-quality modern replacement materials. This pen is also known as a "350" or a "short and slender" Balance, measuring around 4.8" capped and 0.42" in diameter.

I restore pens for people who love to write. This simple formula entails that I select fountain pens from among pens made between the early 1930s and late 1950s, made by the four major American brands. This pen meets the criteria perfectly. Made by Sheaffer, the famous Balance, was a revolutionary pen at the time. The Iowa company had the most extensive pen catalog in the industry, and even their lower-end pens were made of high-quality materials and at the same high level of craftsmanship. I love restoring Sheaffer pens because their quality makes the process incredibly rewarding and it ensures that my customers are going to enjoy the pen's performance.

This Balance is in excellent shape, with a gleaming, shimmering Golden Brown celluloid that is deep, rich, and vibrant, with good barrel transparency, and a smooth, blemish-free surface. The gold-filled trim is in equally excellent shape. A beautiful, classic pen, it will make a great companion in your travels, for journaling purposes, a fantastic, compact pen to take to the office or your favorite coffee shop. The pen posts very well, and it should be comfortable even for people with larger hands.

The nib is such joy to write with! A smooth, springy writer, it lays down a wet, consistent line that is close to modern Western extra-fine, though the nib probably sold as a Fine. It is ground to write at the lightest pressure, and that's where it performs best. If you press harder, the nib will respond with a pleasant "give" and the tines will spread, giving you a hint of line variation. Today, such a nib would be very difficult to outperform, either by European or Japanese models. It's the kind of nib that makes you want to write for hours, loving every stroke.